MISS INDIAN ARIZONA NEWS WINTER 2010 VOL 1, NO 2.
Miss Indian Arizona News
Welcome to our Winter Issue! With the new year upon us, we would like to This month we are excited to announce take this opportunity to wish you all safe and The Summer and Fall have flown by, and we several new ways in which we will be interacting happy 2010! We thank you for all your support have a new Miss Indian Arizona to present to you! with the public. First, we now have an online through 2009, and look forward to your Daryl Lynn Jay, from the Gila River Indian form for requesting appearances. Now, you can continued support in the new year. Community, was selected as the 2009-2010 Miss send requests for appearances 24hours a day, Indian Arizona. She has already been busy ever 7days a week, without worrying about postage or since being crowned, and has been to several phone calls. events already, including the Fiesta Bowl Parade, Second, we have joined the internet craze! In this Issue and the Chandler Multicultural Festival. Look on We are now on Twitter and Facebook! Become a the Page 3 for more upcoming events. fan on Facebook and interact with other fans, Miss Indian NAU 2 We would like to take this opportunity to leave a message or share your pictures of Miss Scholarship Program Recap thank and congratulate Earleen Patricio for a very Indian Arizona’s appearances with others. Follow 2 successful reign as Miss Indian Arizona. She has us on Twitter and get up to the minute news, Titleholder Spotlight - Veronica Homer 3 had a very fast paced and BUSY year, but was links, pictures from the road and random tweets very successful in keeping up with her classes as from the Association, and Miss Indian Arizona Upcoming Dates/Events 3 well as doing MIA events at the same time. It has herself. We may even hold contests from time to been a pleasure working with her, and we wish time. Not to worry, we can still be contacted her continued success in all her future endeavors. through regular mail and phone!
Miss Indian Arizona News is a intermittent publication of the Miss Indian Arizona Association, and the Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program. The Miss Indian Arizona Association is composed of a variety of individuals, several of whom are past MIA title holders and participants. Membership in the organization is open to all interested individuals. If you are interested in participating in the Miss Indian Arizona Association, or contributing material for future publication, please visit our website at 2010 www.missindianarizona.com or email us at [email protected] Full Results Miss Indian Arizona Daryl Lynn Jay Gila River Indian Community
First Attendant Mykhal Mendoza White Mountain Apache Tribe
Second Attendant Anseenia Shirley Navajo Nation
Miss Congeniality Gionna Cooper Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community
Evening Wear Award Daryl Lynn Jay Gila River Indian Community Participants of the 2009-2010 Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program. (L-R) Gionna Cooper, Anseenia Shirley, Lanea Rose Burdette, Daryl Lynn Jay, Mykhal Mendoza and Tayla Tahbo Community Service Award Mykhal Mendoza White Mountain Apache Tribe 48th Annual Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program Another year has passed, and we had another successful Scholarship Program. This year, we held the program at the Mesa Arts Center, and the evening was very well attended, with over XXX people in Essay Award attendance. This year’s theme was “Native Women - Keepers of our Culture.” We had six participants in Daryl Lynn Jay this years program. Gila River Indian Community •Lanea Rose Burdette - San Carlos Apache Tribe Peoples’ Choice Award •Gionna Cooper - Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Cooper •Daryl Lynn Jay - Gila River Indian Community Daryl Lynn Jay •Mykhal Mendoza - White Mountain Apache Tribe Gila River Indian Community •Anseenia Shirley - Navajo Nation •Tayla Tahbo - Colorado River Indian Tribes.
Congratulations to all the participants for their very impressive performances throughout the evening. We are all very proud of what you accomplished during the program, not just on the night of the program, but they days leading up to the event. We wish you all continued success in your future endeavors, and look forward to seeing you and your accomplishments in the future.
Jaymee Moore crowned Miss Indian NAU 2009-2010 Northern Arizona University held their annual Miss NAU pageant Nov. 20 at the Cline Library assembly hall. Six contestants entered with the hopes of winning the crown to represent Native American students at Northern Arizona University. In the end, sophomore Jaymee Li Moore, 19, was crowned the new Miss Indian NAU 2009-2010. She is a Miss Indian Arizona Alum, having been crowned Are you on Facebook? 1st Attendant 2007-2008. Moore is currently seeking a BS in applied Indigenous studies, with an emphasis in policy Become a Fan! administration and her minor is political science. She is from the Mohave/Chemehuevi/Hopi tribes and is a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Parker. Her parents are Jonathan Moore and Lynette Stevens. When asked why she entered the contest, she replied "I thought it would be a great opportunity to remember my college experience and youth." She added, "Always give the gift of encouragement, because you give [students] a boost to overcome some threshold that might be holding them back." Do you Tweet? The Miss Indian NAU Scholarship Pageant, presented by the Native Americans United student club, promotes cultural awareness and understanding of tribal/Indigenous groups, positively represents Native American students at NAU, and assists in strengthening the recruitment and retention of Native Follow us American college students. @MissIndianAZ Along with her new title and crown, Moore also won a $1,600 scholarship to help with her education. Congratulations to Jaymee on her accomplishment, and continuing her education Spotlight - Veronica Homer State Fair Commission in November 1961. In after 25 years of service to Indian Tribes in the January 1963 as Head Majorette, she left the Federal Government and 15 years of service to Arizona Inter-Tribal Band down Constitution the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Avenue during President John F. Kennedy’s During her career she served on various Inaugural Parade. Veronica states “All the Governor’s Commissions, the Inter-Tribal Indian Bands in Arizona joined together to Council of Arizona, Charter Member and represent Arizona in the Inaugural Parade for President of the Irataba Society, National President John F. Kennedy. I was selected as Indian Days Coordinator, established little Miss Head Majorette and my picture was on the CRIT in 1969, Director Miss Indian Arizona front page of the Arizona Republic. The trip to 1969-1987, Soroptimists International, Arizona Washington D.C. was made by bus taking three Humanities Commission, 1st Alternate to OAS days, we arrived on a snowy day which was a Inter-American Indian Institute for South & new adventure for me and the first time I had North America, 1985 one of thirty-five been in snow! The Director o the Band was the delegates of women for a Meaningful Summit late Loren Emerson, a tremendously musically who met with Soviet President Gorbachev in talented man. I made many friends, and the Switzerland, 1990-94 Member of the Women’s trip was one of the most memorable events of Auxiliary VEVITA (Vietnam Era Veteran’s Inter- my reign.” Tribal Association – MA/VA) 1994 Re- After five years of administering the established Miss Indian Arizona Statewide Neighborhood Youth Corps for CRIT, Veronica Committee under the auspices of ITCA, 2003 was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Colorado Founding Member and Co-President of Women River Tribal Council in 1969, continually serving Empowering Women for Indian Nations Beginning with this issue, we will be as Vice-Chairman or Recording Secretary until (WEWIN), 2005 CRIT Royalty Committee, 2008 shining the “Spotlight” once more on one of 1980. She became politically active in state and Chairman of the First Things First CRIT Regional our previous 45 titleholders. To kick things off, national affairs during her tenure. In 1977 she Partnership Council, serving the town of Parker we will be highlighting the first ever Miss Indian was elected as the first woman President of the and CRIT. Arizona, Veronica Homer. National Congress of American Indians after She has been recognized for her many Veronica is an enrolled Mohave member previously serving as Vice President and accomplishment sand contributions to of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. She comes Recording Secretary and Area Vice President. organizations, tribes, and her role in the from lineage which includes Shasta (California) She entered Federal Government Service support of Women, Children Youth and Elders. from her late mother Alice Courts Home and in 1980 as Tribal Operations Specialist at She also serves as Elder in the Parker Valley Mohave (Arizona/California) from her late Colorado River Agency in Parker, AZ. In 1987 Presbyterian Church. In retirement she remains father Pete Homer Sr. She has one daughter, she transferred to the Western Nevada Agency committed to lead an active and constructive Alice “Renee” Murdock and one in Carson City, NV as Tribal Operations Officer. life, caring for her granddaughter and granddaughter Veronica Mildred Murdock, her In 1989 Veronica accepted a position as Special attending Head Start functions with her namesake. She comes from a family of eight, Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the daughter. 1n 998 Veronica began researching with sister Denise Homer, Marlene Powell, and Interior and transferred to Washington D.C. In and creating Mohave potter, considering Sylvia “Cindy” homer, and three brother Pete 1994 she was selected as Superintendent of the herself only a beginner. It is her hope to Homer Jr. Brother John and Gary Homer are Salt River Agency where she served three become a practicing potter. no longer living. tribes; Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian She was selected as Miss Indian Arizona at Community, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the Arizona State Fair sponsored by the Arizona the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. In 2004 she retired Dates January February March If you have an event which you feel should be in our calendar, please send your event details to 2 6 6 [email protected]. Fiesta Bowl Parade - Downtown Vietnamese Tet New Year Coolidge Cotton Day Parade Phoenix Celebration - 68 S Dobson, Mesa 10:00am - Coolidge AZ We will gladly list such events as 10:30 am Opening tribal pageants, powwows and 6:30pm Fashion Show and Talent celebrations, as well as workshops, meetings and other events which might be of 16 14 14 particular interest to Indian Chandler Multicultural Festival Valentine’s Day ♥ Daylight Savings Begins Women.
30 15 17 Native Trails - Scottsdale Center President’s Day St. Paticks Day ♣ for the Arts - 11:00 am Patty Ferguson, President Michelle Homer Alice Renee Murdock Miss Indian Arizona Pointe au Chiene Colorado River Indian Tribes Colorado River Indian Tribes
Daris Laffoon, Vice Pres./Secretary Tara Kitcheyan Earleen Patricio Association Members Colorado River Indian Tribes San Carlos Apache Tribe Tohono O’odham
Denise Homer, Exec. Director Vicky Laffoon Yvonne Schaaf Colorado River Indian Tribes Colorado River Indian Tribes Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Veronica Homer, Historian Angeline Mahkee Colorado River Indian Tribes Zuni Pueblo Daryl Lynn Jay Miss Indian Arizona 2009-2010 Eileen Hill Darin Mahkee Gila River Indian Community White Mountain Apache Tribe Zuni Pueblo
Support our Organization Indian women throughout Arizona. Each year the Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship Program The Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship provides more than $6000 in scholarship funds to Program is sponsored by the Miss Indian Arizona young Indian women. Awards range from $200 Association. The Miss Indian Arizona Scholarship to $3500. If you would like to volunteer, or make Program is open to Indian women ages 16-25, financial contributions to our organization, please who are Arizona residents, and either currently contact: enrolled, or plan to enroll in post-secondary education programs. Denise Homer, Executive Director Over the last 48 years, the Miss Indian Miss Indian Arizona Association Arizona Scholarship Program has shaped the lives 16035 South 31st Way of the many women who have participated, in a Phoenix AZ 85048 very positive manner. one of the greatest Tel 480.306.4533 • FAX 480.306.8505 achievements of the Program has been to [email protected] encourage, prepare and reward deserving young
MISS INDIAN ARIZONA ASSOCIATION 16035 SOUTH 31ST WAY PHOENIX AZ 85048 miss indian arizona